Months before Largo Police found 2-year-old Jordan Belliveau dead in a wooded area in Largo, his mother, who now stands charged with his murder, filed a motion in Circuit Court to regain custody of him, a motion the judge granted.

Child advocacy group argued against return of Jordan Belliveau to mother

LARGO, Fla. — Court documents released Thursday revealed a disturbing conflict between a volunteer child advocacy group and a Pinellas County judge concerning custody of 2-year-old Jordan Belliveau just months before the boy was found dead earlier this week.

Records released by Eckerd Connects, the agency that oversees child welfare in Pinellas County, show in a custody hearing on April 23, 2018, a Sixth Judicial Circuit Court judge reviewed a motion by Charisse Stinson, Jordan's mother, to regain custody of her son.

Child advocacy group Florida Guardian ad Litem objected to Stinson's motion, pointing out that neither they nor the Department of Children and Families had not received documentation proving she had received counseling, as required in November 2017 when Jordan was placed in foster care.

Despite the objection, the judge ruled in favor of Stinson, stating that she had remedied the state's concerns. The ruling stated restoring her custody “will not be detrimental to the child’s safety, well-being, and physical, mental and emotional health.”

Other documents show Stinson's custody was restored on May 31. Jordan’s father, Jordan Belliveau, Sr. had his custody rights restored on June 11.